2023 Projects:
- Climate Distress Services for Young People
GTEC, along with the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance (MHCCA/SFU), and youth and young adults aged 16-24, are developing climate distress services to be delivered by GTEC at the False Creek Climate Response Centre and in digitally-based formats. The initial work of this partnership is supported by the Michael Smith Health Research Foundation.
- False Creek Climate Response Centre
The first of its kind in Canada, the False Creek Climate Response Centre is a scalable, multi-faceted resource serving the people of the False Creek area and the surrounding City of Vancouver community. The Centre is being developed in partnership with False Creek Friends Society. GTEC is thankful to the Trottier Foundation for its support in developing this centre.
- Enhancing the Resilience of Community Social Services in Responding to the Impacts of Climate Change
This project entails collaboration with a pre-existing network of community-based organizations throughout BC operating under the umbrella of the Federation of Community Social Services of BC.

Fight Fire with Fire: An Interview with Bob Gray, Wildland Fire Ecologist
The GTEC Reader is published on this website and emailed to subscribers as a free access publication providing the community with a forum for information, dialogue and reflections about environmental issues.
> See Volume 4, Issue 3 — Articles this issue:
GTEC is…
A Model for Regenerative Urban Living and Healthy Community
in the Rapidly Changing World of the 21st Century
VISION: The Green Technology Education Centre is at the forefront of solutions to the social and environmental challenges of our time.
MISSION: GTEC informs, supports and activates communities in responding to the climate crisis.
GTEC’S OBJECTIVES ARE:
ONE Design, develop and present public education materials about green technology.
TWO Promote the adoption of green technologies through community education.
THREECollaborate with organizations that have similar objectives such as community agencies, universities and government departments.
Latest Greatest GTEC Blogs
Smoke Inhalation as a Fossil Fuel Subsidy
This Op-Ed by Linda Thyer and Arden Henley, was originally published in the Vancouver Sun, August 29, 2023. Opinion: The smoke in the air that impairs our health and compromises our capacity to breathe is a form of subsidizing the fossil fuel industry Here we are on...
Reduce the Effects of Climate Change – Poll
You’re doing it wrong: Recycling and other myths about tackling climate change Washington Post, August 28, 2023 A slim majority of Americans think their individual actions can reduce the effects of climate change, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland...
One Planet
The Network with No Name by Arden Henley We have now entered the epoch of climate change. As the world’s scientists predicted, the warming planet is now in transition with changes in the weather noticeable everywhere and extreme weather events increasingly a part of...
Book Announcement: Michael Clague Memoir
GTEC is happy to announce the recent release of “So, How Have I Been Doing At Being Who I Am? – At 82, A Life in Progress”, a memoir by our friend, Michael Clague. Michael is a Former director of The Fraser Basin Council, and the Chair of the Unitarian Church of...
Arden’s Response to the “What If?” Statement in the Clague Newsletter
Arden Henley responds to the Clague Newsletter’s “Imaginary Statement from the Premier on the Climate Crisis – What If?” (re-printed here in the GTEC Blog) By Arden Henley We are entirely in agreement with your description of the current status of the climate crisis...
What If? The Premier were to make: “An Announcement of Importance to All British Columbians – The Climate Crisis”
This blog is published by permission of Michael Clague. An earlier version appeared in the Clague Newsletter of June 28, 2023. by Michael Clague July 1, 2023: Dear Reader: Here’s a piece of musing about what a premier of British Columbia (or of any province for that...
Responding to the Climate Crisis
Responding to the Climate Crisis - Collaboration, Caring and Community By Arden Henley Based on a talk given by the author and Ingrid Kastens at the Annual Conference of the Federation of Community Social Services of BC. The conference was held on June 15, 2023 at the...
Reusing and Relocating Houses
Original article found on The Orca.ca “Reusing and relocating houses ought to be part of the solution to our crisis” – by Gil Yaron, Managing Director of Light House. Gil is dedicated to helping government and industry advance regenerative built environments. In this...
Through the Smoke
Original press release from Third Act published here. It’s an interesting day at Third Act—because we’re scattered across the country, we’ve got staff and volunteers waking up on the east coast to some of the dirtiest air recorded in decades as smoke pours down the...
The GTEC Board of Directors
Arden Henley
Executive Director
Arden Henley is the former Vice President of CityU Canada and a founder of the CityU counselling programs. Previously he was the Director of White Rock Family Therapy Institute, the Director of Clinical Services at Peace Arch Community Services, and the Executive Director of the South Okanagan Children’s Services Society. He is a former Advisor to the Provincial Counsellor Education Task Force and the former Chair of the Board of the BC College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Practitioners. Dr. Henley has a B.A. from McMaster University, an M.A. from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, U.S.A and a Doctorate in Education from Simon Fraser University.
Terry Stone
DIRECTOR
An enthusiastic professional with more than 20 years experience in Business ownership, Management and Marketing, Terry is passionate about respecting our planet and people. An avid wilderness junkie, he loves the saying “leave only footprints and take only pictures”. He has enjoyed working in fitness & rehabilitation, life safety, green-building, alternative energy, and sustainability. Still searching for the way he can make a large impact, he offers GTEC — critical thinking, problem-solving and strategic planning.
Norman Sam
CHAIR
Formally educated at BCIT and UBC in Management and Finance, Norman’s careers and businesses continue to span the spectrum from corporate wellness to real estate development and technology start-up in the climate tech sector. Complementing these activities, Norman has also volunteered extensively with various non-profit and community service organizations. The common narrative among this diverse range of activities is a passion and desire to make his community and the world a better place.
Todd McGowan
SECRETARY
Todd McGowan is an education leader, outdoor adventurer and sustainability specialist. He lived and worked in Ethiopia helping design and implement English language teacher trainings in the Southern Region of the country. He was the Education Director and part of the design team for a 430-acre sustainable community development in Sechelt, BC that combined lifelong learning (including an international high school), senior living, agriculture, affordable housing, an eco-adventure park, an artisan community and a waterfront village along with vast greenspace and trail networks. The development aspired to be the most sustainable community in North America and support the 7 dimensions of wellness: Social, Emotional, Environmental, Spiritual, Physical, Occupational and Intellectual.
Neal Mutadi
DIRECTOR (ON LEAVE)
Dr. Neal Mutadi is the president of NCEA, an organization dedicated to quality education. He has worked in national & international assignments. He was an instructor at UBC & director of San Diego State & City University leadership programs in Canada. He also served as principal, director of education & deputy superintendent of schools in British Columbia. Neal has a doctorate from Brigham Young University & has published articles in leading American & Canadian educational magazines. He has been actively involved in community groups, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International & the Heart & Stroke Foundation. He has enjoyed the beauty of our planet through world travel. He is committed to collaborating with individuals & groups who are passionate about protecting our planet.
Mary Charleson
DIRECTOR
Mary Charleson is a Marketing Speaker, Educator, and Strategist. She is the author of fiveminutemarketing.com Blog and weekly newsletter, featuring marketing tips for the time starved entrepreneur. Mary has two books: “Word of Mouth Mouse & Mobile” (2013) and “Five-Minute Marketing” (2010). She is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the Global Speakers Federation. Mary delivers keynotes and presentations for private companies, associations, and conferences.
Gerry Zipursky
DIRECTOR
Gerry’s extensive career in Community Development and Community Leadership includes many years in the Neighborhood House movement in Vancouver working at Gordon Neighborhood House, Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House, as well as being the founding Executive Director of South Vancouver Neighborhood House. He was the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver for 22 years. Gerry has also been a consultant to a wide range of community organizations and Boards.
Mary Kean
DIRECTOR
Mary Kean is a retired couple and family therapist, published poet and writer, and editor of The GTEC Reader. She has been on the Board of GTEC since its inception and is totally dedicated currently to stopping and even reversing the Climate Crisis for the benefit of future generations.
Alisa Kaletsky
DIRECTOR
Alisa is a lawyer. Prior to practicing law she worked in research and spent time working and studying in Israel. She is passionate about animal rights and welfare and shifting our consumption away from animals to reduce the significant impact of animal agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions.
Linda Thyer
VICE-CHAIR
Linda practises family and sport medicine on traditional Coast Salish territories with a focus on youth over the past 20 years. She is a founding member of Doctors for Planetary Health – West Coast and is an active member of various medical, environmental and community organizations. She is grateful for the many nourishing and healing gifts of Mother Earth and works toward restoring health and peace for all.
Kim McLeod
TREASURER
Kim McLeod graduated from UBC with a degree in Physical Education. She worked in corporate health and wellness and then transitioned into high tech as a project manager/producer to develop a virtual personal trainer application. Passionate about all areas of healthy living she turned her focus to the built environment and completed a two-year program from Rosenheim Germany in building biology learning about sustainable healthy building design. With her expertise in research, sourcing, planning, and driving project execution, she applies building biology principles to both residential and commercial projects. A strong appreciation for nature, she thrives on trail runs, hikes, and skate skiing with family and friends.
Steve Conway
DIRECTOR
Dr. Steve Conway is the Mental Health and Wellness Director with the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC and is the former Vice President of City University in Canada. Steve has over 30 years experience providing mental health services and leadership in a wide range of settings with diverse populations and clinical issues. Steve holds a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and an MBA with a focus on leadership and teams. Steve is a Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor and has coach training in an ICF accredited program. For the previous 12 years, in addition to being a senior level leader, Steve has been a counselling therapist, leadership coach and consultant, workshop facilitator focusing on workplace mental health and leadership issues and a leadership fit to position assessment specialist.
Sapna Dayal
DIRECTOR
Sapna is a CPA, CA with over 25 years experience. A builder at heart, she’s currently part of the founding group at Brass Token, an independent video game development studio. From 2007 – 2015, she served as Executive Director of imagine1day, a non-profit which provides access to quality education for children throughout Ethiopia. Sapna also dedicated 15 years to a career in public accounting with KPMG LLP, and more recently with Smythe CPA, working across practice areas including assurance, corporate finance and international taxation, in Canada and Brazil. Sapna is overjoyed to add “mama” to her bio, having been blessed with the birth of her daughter in 2020.
Ranbir K. Banwait
DIRECTOR
Ranbir has a PhD in Asian Diaspora studies from Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on the physical, ethical and social implications of embodiment. Currently, she is exploring the relationship of food to identity: the ways in which we grow it, eat it, and share it with others, shapes & reveals who we are. Ranbir believes in the transformative power of dialogue in education, as we collectively imagine a better future together.
Raphael Gasc
DIRECTOR
Raphael is a community-minded undergraduate student and outdoor industry professional with a fascination for wildlife and the natural spaces they inhabit. After nearly a decade of competition in the discipline of biathlon, he began his post-secondary studies in Kinesiology at Capilano University, where he also serves on the Senate and Student Union Board of Directors. He chose this major since it suited his devotion to transcending physical limits and promoting longevity. More recently, Raphael reoriented his concentration in Environmental Science, to follow his passion for Ecology. As an aspiring expert in this field, he hopes to assist the GTEC board in realizing its objectives by representing youth voices and keeping wildlife’s best interests in mind.
c/o Kitsilano Neighbourhood House
2305 West 7th Ave
Vancouver, BC V6K 1Y4
Canada
info@gteccanada.ca